In the section of “Safety and Disaster Prevention” of our Responsible Care (RC) policy, we aim to achieve zero accidents and disasters based on the principle that “ everything begins with safety. In addition, we promote security management of facilities in compliance with related laws and regulations, and maintain a crisis management system in case of emergency.
Osaka Soda is taking action for process safety and disaster prevention, including establishing a basic policy for security management implemented at each business site. Furthermore, Osaka Soda has built a security management system for security, facilities, and operations to be implemented at each business site under the purview of the Group-wide and individual Site RC Committees. In addition, Osaka Soda strives to prevent serious accidents with both soft and hard measures. These include training operators to improve their field capabilities and operating techniques, and carrying out systematic maintenance management for facilities (planned and preventive maintenance).
Security Management Policy
（Mizushima Plant / Okayama Plant）
- Strive for zero accidents and zero injuries based on the concept that safety is the starting point for all activities
- Strictly follow the crisis management system during emergency situations
- Promote security management of facilities and strive to improve security capabilities
- Maintain and continually improve the security management system
- Uphold specific requirements set forth at the plant
- Establish security management targets based on this policy and strive to achieve them
- Review security management targets at least once a year at the plant RC Committee
- Disseminate this policy to all plant workers for greater understanding and to ensure proper implementation, upkeep, and improvement
Mizushima Plant and Okayama Plant have established and are operating a security management system based on the Security Management Policy. As certified sites under the High Pressure Gas Safety Act, the Mizushima Plant and Okayama Plant operate a security management system and also undergo security certification inspections and internal audits.
We aim to achieve zero serious accidents and are strengthening facility management to maintain safe and stable operations. In fiscal year 2024, the number of serious accidents (Class A incidents) and quasi-Class A incidents remained at zero, and we carried out planned facility management through the operation of our facility management system. To further promote autonomous maintenance, we encourage employees to obtain the Autonomous Maintenance Specialist certification, and five employees passed the Level 1 certification in fiscal year 2024. We are continuing to reinforce our security management system.
Our operations involve handling a wide range of chemical substances. By assessing risks based on the types and quantities of chemicals handled, as well as risks associated with specific tasks, and by implementing appropriate measures, we work to create a healthy and safe work environment for all employees. HAZOP and other methods are used to identify hazard sources, conduct risk assessments, and systematically implement risk mitigation
countermeasures according to the magnitude of risk.
In the event of a major earthquake or other disaster or emergency, our safety confirmation system simultaneously sends e-mails and other communications to employees’ registered contact information. Employees at business sites in the area of an earthquake of seismic intensity 5 (on the Japanese seismic intensity scale) or higher are automatically sent safety confirmation messages.
The Group ensures proper maintenance of plant facilities and strict control of hazardous materials, high-pressure gases, and toxic substances as part of our process safety and disaster prevention activities. We maintain the crisis management system necessary to prevent accidents and disasters, while conducting various drills to prepare for emergencies. Each site conducts comprehensive disaster prevention drills, reporting and communication drills, oil spill response team dispatch drills, high-pressure gas disaster prevention drills, and more. Comprehensive disaster prevention drills assuming large earthquakes are also conducted at each plant and workplace, and we will continue working to further enhance our ability to respond when disasters occur.
- 拡大
- Joint disaster prevention drills（Mizushima Plant）
As part of its safety and disaster prevention activities, the Group maintains a crisis management system necessary to prevent accidents and disasters, and conducts various drills to prepare for disasters, as well as to ensure the maintenance of plant facilities and the thorough management of hazardous materials, high-pressure gas, and toxic substances handled.
The Mizushima and Matsuyama plants have formed a joint disaster prevention organization as stipulated by the Act on the Prevention of Disaster in Petroleum Industrial Complexes and Other Petroleum Facilities, and are engaged in prompt and appropriate firefighting activities.
In fiscal year 2024, the Mizushima Plant participated in a high-pressure gas transport accident drill organized by the Okayama Prefecture High-Pressure Gas Regional Disaster Prevention Council. By working with fire departments, police, and other related authorities to train for swift and accurate responses in simulated disaster scenarios, we strive to build a disaster prevention framework in cooperation with the local community.
In preparation for a major earthquake, which is forecast to occur in the near future, Osaka Soda has formulated a business continuity plan (BCP) for each manufacturing site assuming damage to production facilities at each workplace and based on forecasts for the restoration of utilities including various raw materials, water, and electricity as well as logistics. Moreover, Osaka Soda has also prepared emergency response guidelines at each site and made all employees aware of the chain of command in an emergency and the procedures for confirming safety. We also continued reviewing our BCP for earthquakes, heavy rainfall, and infectious diseases in fiscal year 2024.